DUBLIN: Grafton Merchanting GB has appointed Steve Parkins as heavyside purchasing director. In this key position he will be responsible for all heavyside procurement for GMGB businesses.
He will also be driving GMGB’s Best Value Country Sourcing strategy where products from around the world are competitively sourced and supplied to the GMGB builder’s and plumber’s merchants businesses including Buildbase, Plumbase and Jackson Building Centres.
Mr Parkins has 28 years’ industry experience in the merchant sector, most latterly in a procurement role with Saint-Gobain at director level. Mr Parkins began his career with G A Day, an independent merchant group that joined Buildbase in 2003.
Speaking about his new appointment, Mr Parkins said: “I’m very excited to be joining GMGB and am looking forward to working with a great team of people here who fully appreciate the core values of successful merchanting. I see the purchasing function as very much a service provider to the GMGB businesses, who are ultimately our customers. This is particularly true for the Best Value Country Sourcing, which will form an integral part of the overall procurement function.”
Martin Lovell, GMGB’s former heavyside purchasing director, has successfully completed his three year commitment to the role and continues as managing director of Hendricks Lovell, one of the GMGB builder’s merchants businesses.
